City of Ottawa extends deadline for employees to get fully vaccinated
City of Ottawa employees have an additional two weeks to get fully vaccinated, as the city extends the deadline for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in the workforce.
In a memo to council, city manager Steve Kanellakos announced the deadline for compliance to the mandatory vaccination policy has been extended from Nov. 1 to Nov. 15.
"While significant progress has been made on the implementation of this policy, with the majority of City staff reporting they are fully vaccinated, extending the deadline by two weeks will allow for follow-up with the employees who have not yet reported their status and ensure as many employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 as possible," said Kanellakos.
Kanellakos adds the "one-time" extension to the deadline will allow for additional on-site technical support for staff to upload their vaccination status and provide employees who recently received their second dose additional time to achieve the two-week waiting period to be fully vaccinated.
As of Thursday, 91.4 per cent of active city employees are fully vaccinated. The city of Ottawa's current vaccination rate for residents 12 and older is 86 per cent.
Earlier this month, the Amalgamated Transit Union warned 400 to 500 OC Transpo drivers could face suspension for not being fully vaccinated.
Kanellakos said council would receive an update before the Nov. 15 deadline on potential impacts to the workforce because of non-vaccinated workers.
"While the number of staff fully vaccinated is high, departments are actively developing plans to ensure business continuity and mitigate any potential impacts to service resulting from the enforcement of this policy," said the city manager.
On Sept. 3, Kanellakos announced the city would implement a mandatory vaccination policy, requiring all employees, contractors, students and volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The policy stated that employees must receive their first dose no later than Sept. 15, their second shot by Oct. 15 and be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1.
All city of Ottawa staff are required to disclose their vaccination status. Kanellakos said the city was implementing a technology solution to support the collection and storage of proof of vaccination status.
Any employee who refuses to comply with the requirements of the mandatory vaccination policy will not be permitted in the workplace, and may be "subject to a variety of consequences" up to and including dismissal, according to Kanellakos.
OTTAWA POLICE VACCINATION POLICY
While all city of Ottawa employees must be fully vaccinated to attend work, unvaccinated employees can still work with the Ottawa Police Service.
Under the police vaccination policy released last Friday, all unvaccinated uniformed and civilian employees must undergo testing every three days and provide a negative COVID-19 result.
As of last week, 83 per cent of Ottawa Police Service employees were fully vaccinated.
Mayor Jim Watson and Ottawa Police Services Board Chair Diane Deans have both said 100 per cent of police employees should be fully vaccinated.
"I don't support what the Ottawa police have done. They are an independent organization and have their own board, but I think we all have to practise what we preach," said Watson after Wednesday's council meeting. "We are out there telling people to get double vaccinated, or they risk losing their jobs at the city of Ottawa. It’s not a frivolous thing that we are engaged in, it is a serious matter."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.